Drawer operating mechanism



March 10, 1953 c. F. MAYER 2,530,927

DRAWER OPERATING MECHANISM Filed Dec. 51, 1947 3 Sheets-Sheet l 63 INVENTOR.

Car/ E Mayer @141 row.

March 10, 1953 c. F. MAYER 2,630,927

DRAWER OPERATING MECHANISM Filed Dec. 51, 1947 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 I m nmnmwmu o z g 2 I I a. I

IN V EN TOR.

I Car/ F Nqyer wMTOLA/ LMM.

March 10, 1953 c. F. MAYER DRAWER OPERATING MECHANISM 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed Dec. 31, 1947 5 N E M cw Patented Mar. 10,, 1953 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE DRAWER- OPERATING MECHANISM Carl Mayer, Lakewood, Ohio Applicationllecember 31, 194.7, Serial No.v795;0.45

5 Claims. 1

This invention relates to industrial .ovens of the drawer type that are used in foundries and other plants for baking ordrying cores and molds, or for heat treating other articles. Because of the weight of the drawers and their contents, ovens of this type incorporate drawer operating mechanism comprising .a track that extends beyond the front plane :of the oven casing or housing a distance somewhat greater than the projected distance of a fully opened drawer. A trolley traverses thetraok and supports a column that mounts coupling means by which the-drawers-may be selectively connected. to the column.

Objects of the invention are to provide, in drawer operating mechanism of the sort referred to, improved .means for coupling the drawers to the column, which means is simple of construction; is effective in making and retaining connection with a drawer; is thoroughly reliable and durable in service, and is convenient and comparatively easy of manipulation, notwithstanding the fact that in its operation it lifts and sustains the otherwise unsupported forward end of a drawer that is especially heavy when loaded.

The foregoing objects and advantages, with others hereinafter appearing, are attained in the embodiment of the invention illustrated in the accompanying drawings, and while I shall proceed to describe said embodiment in detail, it will be understood that the invention is not thus limited, but is commensurate in scope with the claims appended hereto.

In the drawings,

Fig. 1 is a front elevational view of a drawer type oven incorporating my improvements;

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary plan view thereof;

Fig. 3 is a sectional side elevation of the oven structure, showing one of the drawers fully open and the drawer operating mechanism in the position it occupies under such conditions, the said mechanism being indicated in dot-and-dash lines in retracted position;

Fig. 4 is a detail, in side elevation, of the coupling means for connecting a drawer to the column of the drawer operating mechanism, the present view showing said means in effective position, as when coupling a drawer to the .column and sustaining the forward end of the drawer slightly above its normal elevation;

Fig. 5 is a View, similar to Fig. .4, showing said coupling means in ineffective position;

Fig. .6 is a front elevational view of the drawer coupling means, in the position shown in Fig. 5, and

Figs '7 is va sectional detail on the. line 1+?! of Fig. 6.

The ovenistructure, designated generallyiby reference'numeral l comprises a rectangular casing or housing constructed of insulated walls of the kind commonly employed in such structures, the top wall being designated .2, the bottom wall 3, the opposite side walls 4 .and 5, and the rear wall 6. The front wall 1 is provided with rec.- tangular openings for the passage of the drawers generally designated Ill, H and 1.2. The casin or housing is supported asuitable distance above the floor ,l 5, by legs I 6.

Each of the drawers 10, .II and I2 includes a front that is provided on its outer side adjacent the bottom thereof with drawer pull '51 each drawer having two pulls that are laterallyspaced apart asuitable distance. The bottom 5210f the drawer is in the form of a grid and is connected at its forward end .to the front 59 adjacent the lower edge of the latter. Rising from the bottom 52 in forwardly spaced relation to the rear end thereof is a seal plate 53. Connected in an approved manner to the rear end of the drawer bottom, so as to roll therealong, is an axle 54. Wheels 55 are attached to the ends of the axle and travel along rails 58 that are supported by and between the front and rear walls of the oven.

-60 is a carriage equipped with flanged wheels 6| that traverse rails 62. These rails comprise a track that is embedded in the floor l5 and extends from beneath the oven forwardly a distance somewhat greater than that. represented by .a. fully opened drawer. Suitablysecured to and. rising from the front of the carriage 60 is a column designated generally by the reference numeral $5. This column is shown as consisting of sidemembers 66 that are connected together at their upper ends by a cross member 61.

Carried by the column B5 are coupling means, generally denoted 10, for selectively connectin the drawers 10, II and I2. .to said column. Referring particularly to Figs. 4 to 7., each of the coupling means 10 includes a rock shaft "H that is iournaled in bearings 12 and 13 that are secured, by bolts 14., to the side members 66 of the column '65. 'Fastened to the ends of the rock shaft 1] outwardly beyond the bearm'gs l2 and T3 are relatively short arms '75 the ends of which, remote from the shaft, have pivotal connection with the upper ends of links l6. The lower ends of these links are similarly connected to the forward ends of levers "18 that are pivotally mounted on a rod 80 that is disposed crosswise of the column and is supported by being extended through openingsfin'the members 66. The levers are "held ;on the rod by abutment means :or collars '81 that are fastened to the rod'outwardly heyond the levers and in such spaced relation to the member 56 as to insure freedom of movement of the levers. The rear ends of the levers l8 are shaped to provide hooks 85 for upward engagement within the downwardly opening sockets of the drawer pulls It will be observed that the bearings 12 are longer than the bearings 13 and that they project inwardly a distance beyond the adjacent side member 65 of the column 65 where they are pro vided with radial notches 86 and 87. The notches, in each case, open through the end as well as the peri heral surface of the bearing and are spaced substantially 90 apart, the notch 85 being at the top, and notch 81 at the front. Secured to the rock shaft 1 l, in practically abutting relation to the bearing I2, is the hub 89 of a relatively long arm 90, shown as formed at its outer end with a grip portion or handle 9 i. Projecting radially from the hub 89 in the same direction as the arm 99 and intermediate said arm and the end of the hub adjacent the bearing 72 is a lug 93 to which is pivoted, by means of a pin 94, a latch member 95. The nose of the latch member is adapted to occupy one or the other of the notches 89 and 81, and extending freely through an opening in the end of the latch member remote from the nose thereof is a rod 95 that has its inner end opposite a recess 9"! in the hub 89 and its outer end guided through a hole in the handle 9 I, beyond which said rod terminates in a head 98. Where the rod extends through the opening in the latch 95, it is pivotally connected to the latch by means of a pin 99. A helical spring I09, that surrounds the end portion of the rod 96 adjacent the hub 89 and seats, at one end, in the recess 91, is compressed between the bottom of the recess and the overhanging portion of the latch 95. Accordingly, said spring tends to rock the latch in a direction to engage its nose within one of the notches of the bearing 72, and the latch is moved in opposition to the spring by pressure applied to the head 99. In order that it may better withstand lateral strain,

the nose of the latch is confined between ears I91 that project radially from the hub 89 on opposite sides of a notch normally occupied by a portion of the nose.

When the drawers are closed, as is usually the case, the portion of the carriage rearwardly of corresponds to the selected drawer is operated in the following manner: The handle 9i of the arm 99 is grasped, in the doing of which the head 93 of the rod 95 is depressed against the action of the spring !99 to rock the latch 95 in a direction to withdraw its nose from the notch 85 of the bearing 12. With the arm thus released, it is swung down to a horizontal position, as shown in Fig. 6. This results in the shorter arms 15 being similarly moved and, by reason of the latters connection through the links 75 with the levers T8, the front ends of said levers are swung downwardly so as to elevate the hooks 95 on the rear ends of the levers and engage them within the sockets of the drawer pulls 5!. These interengaging parts are so proportioned and related that, as the arms 15 and 90 approach horizontal position, the hook strikes the top wall of the sockets of the drawer ulls 5| and lifts the forward end of the drawer enough to remove its weight from the bottom of the drawer opening in the front wall I. Now, by removing pressure from the head 98 of the rod 96, the spring I09 will be permitted to'rock the latch in a direction to enga e its nose within the notch 87 of the bearing 12 and lock the parts in their present positions with the front of the drawer held elevated. The full weight of the drawer, with that of any articles thereon, will be sustained by the rollers 55 and the carriage 60. Consequently, the drawer may be easily opened by pulling on the handle 9| so as to cause the carriage 60 to travel to the front end of the track comprising the rails 52; and, when the drawer is fully extended, the drawer opening in the front wall I will be closed by the seal plate 53. With the drawer open it may be loaded or unloaded in the usual way and if a load of considerable weight is involved, it may be readily handled by means of an overhead hoist or crane since the space above the drawer is entirely unobstructed. The drawer is closed by reversing the foregoing operation and, when fully closed, the major portion of the carriage 69 is beneath the oven casing or housing and the column 65 adjacent the front wall I thereof. Now the latch 95 may be released and the coupling means l9 restored to its former position wherein it is held by the engagement of the latch 95 in the notch 86.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is:

1. In drawer operating mechanism, in combination with a column adapted for disposition adjacent the front of a drawer provided with a drawer pull, coupling means comprising a lever pivoted intermediate its ends to the column, the rear end of the lever being shaped for holding engagement with the drawer pull, a shaft supported by the column at an elevation vertically spaced from the horizontal plane of the pivot of said lever, a relatively short arm fixed to the shaft, a link connecting the outer end of said arm to the forward end of the lever, a second and longer arm secured to the shaft for rocking it thereby to engage the rear end of the aforesaid lever with the drawer pull when the longer arm is in one position and to disengage it therefrom when said longer arm is in a second position, and latch mechanism incorporated in the longer arm and cooperating with a part fixed with respect to the column for holding the coupling means against movement when said longer arm is in either of said positions.

2. Coupling means for drawer operating mechanism according to claim 1, wherein said longer arm is provided with a handle at its outer end, and said latch mechanism includes actuating means contiguous to said handle.

3. In drawer operating mechanism, in combination with a column adapted for disposition adjacent the front of a drawer provided with'a pair of laterally spaced drawer pulls, coupling means comprising two levers each pivoted intermediate its ends to the column, the rear end of each lever being shaped for holding engagement with one of said drawer pulls, a shaft supported by the column at an elevation vertically spaced from the horizontal plane of the pivotal axes of said levers, a relatively short arm fixed to the shaft adjacent each end thereof, a link connecting the outer end of each arm to the forward end of the corresponding lever, a longer arm secured to theshaft for rocking it thereby to engage the rear ends of the aforesaid levers with the drawer pulls when the longer arm is in one position and to disengage them therefrom when said longer arm is in a second position, and latch mechanism incorporated in the longer arm and cooperating with a part fixed with respect to the column for holding the longer arm against movement when in either of said positions.

4. Coupling means for drawer operating mechanism according to claim 3, wherein said longer arm is provided with a handle at its outer end, and said latch mechanism is adjacent the inner end of the longer arm and includes actuating means contiguous to said handle.

5. In drawer operating mechanism, in combination with a column adapted to be disposed adjacent the front of a drawer provided with a drawer pull, coupling means comprising a lever pivoted intermediate its ends to the column, the rear end of said lever being shaped to constitute a hook for holding engagement with the drawer pull, a bearing on the column at an elevation vertically spaced from the horizontal plane of the pivotal axis of said lever, a shaft journaled in said bearing, a relatively short arm fixed to the shaft in substantially the vertical plane of said lever, a link connecting the outer end of said arm to the forward end of the lever, a second and longer arm secured to the shaft for rocking it thereby to engage said hook with the drawer pull when the longer arm is in one position and to disengage it therefrom when said longer arm is in a second position, the longer arm incorpo- 'therealong and having its inner end operatively connected to the latch, the outer end of the longer arm incorporating a handle, and means on the rod adjacent said handle for moving the rod in a direction to release the latch in opposition to said spring.

CARL F. MAYER.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,274,141 Coleman July 30, 1918 1,301,075 Moore Apr. 15, 1919 1,775,536 Schott Sept. 9, 1930 1,959,518 Barnett et al May 22, 1934 2,376,095 Shoeld May 15, 1945 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 486,664 Great Britain June 8, 1938 

